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A tornado about a mile wide ripped through Parkersburg and surrounding towns in Iowa on Sunday, May 25, 2008, killing seven people and injuring 67 in Parkersburg.
The tornado struck between 5:30 and 6:15 p.m., moving across the towns of Aplinton, New Hartford, Waterloo and Dunkerton then bearing down on Parkersburg which suffered the brunt of the storm.
Most of Parkersburg has some damage but the southern half of town was devastated by the tornado. Homes, banks, the high school and restaurants were destroyed.
Final assessment of the tornado rated it a low EF-5, with estimated wind speeds up to 205 mph.
On May 28, 2008 it was announced that all of the town's records were lost in the storm. Computer backups may be salvageable, but official's first priority, it was said, is organizing the massive clean-up and reconstruction effort.
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Shelters
The elementary school in Parkersburg is set up as a temporary shelter for residents and the Red Cross has shelters set up at the following locations: Aplington Middle School, Dunkerton Community School, and Hazelton First Presbyterian Church.The Red Cross is asking for donations of blood and money to help with the disaster. Contact the Red Cross by calling 319-234-6831 or going online to www.hawkeyechapter.org.
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Hugo, Minnesota
The same storm system pounded the town of Hugo, Minnesota killing a two-year-old child and seriously injuring at least nine others. The storm leveled at least 50 homes an additional 150 were damaged in Hugo. -
Aftermath
Government official estimated the damage from the tornado to be around $6 million, but indicated that repairs will probably cost residents and business even more.Officials also warned residents about scammers who are pretending to be "FEMA-approved" to clean up debris for a price. They then ask for a down payment, and never show up to do the job. FEMA indicated that there is no such system set up, and told anyone who encountered this to call the local authorities.
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The Mahalo Top 7
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YouTube Video: Parkersburg Tornado 05/25/08 (Time: 0:48)
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The Des Moines Register: The Aftermath: Interactive Map
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NOAA: Parkersburg-New Hartford-Dunkerton Tornado Information
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KGAN (Cedar Rapids): Tornado toll estimated at more than $6 million
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YouTube Video: Iowa Gov. Culver Visits Parkersburg After Tornado (Time: 1:47)
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YouTube Video: Parkersburg Tornado 05/25/08 (Time: 0:48)
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Parkersburg, IA Tornado News | Add a Link
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The Des Moines Register: 'This Was a Violent and Historic Storm'
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Topix.net: Parkersburg, IA Tornado
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The Des Moines Register: 'This Was a Violent and Historic Storm'
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Questions and Answers About Parkersburg, IA Tornado | View All | Ask a Question
View All Parkersburg, IA Tornado Questions (176) | Ask a QuestionWhen/Where was the most dangerous Tornado recorded in human history? (2 Answers)Strangely, the most devastating torando is NOT the most powerful one. The most destructive one was an F5 tornado, one below the highest possible classification. However, it hit a populated ... read moreDuring a tornado, where is the best place to go in a 1 story house with a crawl space? (3 Answers)A bathroom with no windows. Get into the tub can cover up with blankets to keep glass from the mirrors off if the worst happens. read moreDoes writing help the reader or writer experience the most learning? (2 Answers)From personal experience, I would say that the writer learns more than the reader. The writer needs to recall and synthesize ideas in their head. They need to organize their ... read more
Ask a Question about Parkersburg, IA Tornado 140 characters
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Recovery and Reconstruction | Add a Link
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KIMT News (Iowa): Shelters Opened for Iowa Storm Victims
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Parkersburg, IA Information | Add a Link
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